(1) 热(深，挚)爱(deep， strong love)[U][N(to)]：a mother's～to her children 母亲对孩子的爱;a daughter's～to her mother 女儿对母亲的挚爱;a person's～to a cause 一个人对事业的爱;feel～for one's family/one's children/one's country/music 感到对家人/孩子/国家/音乐的挚爱;Our mutual～gave us great strength. 我们相互间的爱给我们巨大力量。〖同〗love， affection， attachment;

(2) 献身，致力，忠诚(act or fact of devoting; loyalty) [U][N(to)]：one's～to duty/one's work/a leader/the party 某人对职责/工作/领袖/党的忠诚;the～of one's energies to the cause of peace 把精力献给和平事业;the～of much time to sports 把很多时间用来进行运动;the～of money to a project 把钱用于一项工程;〖同〗devotedness， earnestness;

(3) 1) 虔诚(religious zeal) [U]：His～led him to the priesthood. 他的虔诚使他献身神职。a life of great～非常虔诚的一生;2) 祈祷(prayers) [C]：The monks/priests were at their～s. 修士/牧师们正在祈祷。hold～s 进行祷告;

←de′vote vt;

→de′votional adj祈祷用的;

【辨异】devotion与love和affection的区别见AFFECTION。